Short bio Larry Adler
Full biography Larry Adler
Larry Adler (February 10, 1914 – August 6, 2001) was an American harmonica player , composer, and an actor. He was known for playing major works including compositions by George Gershwin , Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Jean Berger. He introduced the harmonica, also known as the mouth organ, into the concert hall and persuaded composers to write scores for the instrument.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Adler began playing the harmonica at a young age, and by age 16, he was a professional musician. He moved to New York in the 1930s, where he gained national recognition for his unique style of playing. He became a sought-after performer, playing with some of the most celebrated musicians of the time, including Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.
In addition to his work as a harmonica player, Adler was also a composer and an actor. He wrote music for films, television shows, and stage productions, and acted in a number of films and television shows, including the 1953 film "Genevieve," for which he wrote the score.
Throughout his career, Adler was a champion of civil rights and free speech, and he was an outspoken critic of censorship. He was a close friend of several prominent writers, including Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote, and his political activism often put him at odds with the authorities.
Adler passed away on August 6, 2001, at the age of 87. He left behind a legacy as a pioneering musician and a tireless advocate for free speech and civil rights.
Albums featuring Larry Adler
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Indo-Jazz Fusions / Larry Adler – Indo Jazz Fusions with Larry Adler | 2022 | British Progressive Jazz |
| 2 |  |
Rhapsodies & Blues(CD, ) | 2004 | Newsound 2000 |
| 3 |  |
Harmonica Man(CD, Album) | 2002 | Rajon Music Group |
| 4 |  |
The Great Larry Adler(CD, Compilation) | 2002 | Naxos Nostalgia |
| 5 |  |
Harmonica Virtuoso(12×File, AAC, Album) | 2001 | K-Tel |
| 6 |  |
The Virtuoso of the Mouth-Organ(CD, Album, Compilation) | 2001 | Avid Records |
| 7 |  |
The Genius Of Larry Adler / 15 Harmonica Classics | 1999 | Decca |
| 8 |  |
The Magic Of Larry Adler(CD, Compilation) | 1999 | Music & Memories |
| 9 |  |
Live! 97 | 1998 | Andrew Mckinnon Concert Presentations |
| 10 |  |
Elton John / Larry Adler – Someone To Watch Over Me(CD, Single, Limited Edition) | 1998 | Lalique |
| 11 |  |
Harmonica Genius(CD, ) | 1997 | Hallmark (6) |
| 12 |  |
Larry Adler(CD, ) | 1996 | Pavilion Records Ltd. |
| 13 |  |
The Best Of Larry Adler(CD, Compilation) | 1996 | Music For Pleasure |
| 14 |  |
The Best Of Larry Adler | 1996 | Castle Pulse |
| 15 |  |
Larry Adler, Jon Bon Jovi – How Long Has This Been Going On(CD, Single, Promo) | 1995 | PolyGram |
| 16 |  |
Maestro Of The Mouth Organ. The Thirties(CD, Compilation) | 1995 | Living Era |
| 17 |  |
The Best Of Larry Adler(CD, Compilation) | 1995 | Sound Waves |
| 18 |  |
Th Golden Era Of Larry Adler(CD, Compilation, Remastered) | 1995 | Camden |
| 19 |  |
Larry Adler / Various – The Glory Of Gershwin(Cassette, Compilation, Promo) | 1994 | Mercury |
| 20 |  |
The Piano Roll Recordings | 1994 | Prestige Records Ltd. |
| 21 |  |
Rhapsody In Blue(CD, Album) | 1994 | Empress (2) |
| 22 |  |
The Golden Era Of Larry Adler Volume 2 | 1994 | Prestige Records Ltd. |
| 23 |  |
Cher & Larry Adler – It Ain't Necessarily So(CD, Maxi-Single) | 1994 | Mercury |
| 24 |  |
Kate Bush & Larry Adler – The Man I Love | 1994 | Mercury |
| 25 |  |
Chicken Shed Theatre Company Feat. Larry Adler – Have A Heart At Christmas | 1994 | RCA |
| 26 |  |
The Mouth Organ Virtuoso | 1994 | EMI |
| 27 |  |
The Golden Era Of Larry Adler Volume 1(CD, Compilation, Remastered) | 1994 | Prestige Records Ltd. |
| 28 |  |
Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli featuring The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France and Larry Adler – Django!(CD, Compilation) | 1994 | Conifer |
| 29 |  |
Larry Adler in Concert(CD, Remastered, Stereo, Mono) | 1991 | EMI Classics |
| 30 |  |
Domingo • Estes • Hendricks • Verrett • Adler • Galway • Lloyd Webber • Tena • Turban • Weissenberg, Orchestre National De France, Lorin Maazel – Classic Aid Gala 1988 | 1988 | Philips |
| 31 |  |
Live at the Ballroom | 1986 | Newport Classic |
| 32 |  |
The Golden Age Of Larry Adler(LP, Compilation, Mono) | 1986 | EMI |
| 33 |  |
Neighbours(LP) | 1984 | Music De Wolfe |
| 34 |  |
Larry Adler Orchestra Conducted By Morton Gould – Larry Adler Plays Gershwin/Porter/Kern/Rodgers/Gould/Arlen | 1980 | RCA Gold Seal |
| 35 |  |
Larry Adler, Morton Gould And His Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Larry Adler Plays Works For Harmonica And Orchestra(LP, Album, Reissue) | 1979 | RCA Gold Seal |
| 36 |  |
Erskine Hawkins With Guests: Illinois Jacquette, June Richmond, Eddie Green (4), Larry Adler And Jean Rodgers – Jubilee 1943(LP, Album, Mono) | 1979 | Joyce |
| 37 |  |
Harmonica | 1978 | Decca |
| 38 |  |
Larry Adler, Francis Chagrin – Larry Adler In Concert(LP) | 1978 | Audio Fidelity |
| 39 |  |
Happy Harmonika(LP, Compilation) | 1973 | Bellaphon |
| 40 |  |
Frank Chacksfield, Nelson Riddle, David Rose, Maurice Jarre With Larry Adler, Richard Attenborough – A Festival Of Film Music(2×LP) | 1972 | Polydor |
| 41 |  |
Georgie Fame / Larry Adler – In Person 11 & 12(LP, Transcription) | 1970 | BBC Transcription Services |
| 42 |  |
Larry Adler - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted By Morton Gould – Larry Adler Plays Harmonica Concertos Dedicated To Him | 1968 | RCA Red Seal |
| 43 |  |
Again! | 1968 | Audio Fidelity |
| 44 |  |
Discovery | 1967 | RCA Victor |
| 45 |  |
Larry Adler Plays The Genevieve Waltz, Love Theme And Blues(LP, Mono) | 1967 | Music For Pleasure |
| 46 |  |
Jerusalem, Jerusalem (Yerushalaim Shel Zahav) | 1967 | RCA Victor |
| 47 |  |
In Concert | 1965 | Pye Records |
| 48 |  |
Rhapsody In Blue(LP, Album, Mono) | 1965 | Hamilton |
| 49 |  |
Waihirere Maori Club, Larry Adler – A Treasure Chest of Maori Music(LP) | 1962 | Kiwi |
| 50 |  |
Around The World With A Harmonica | 1961 | Concert Hall |
| 51 |  |
Harmonica Virtuoso With Piano, Trumpet, Bass, Guitar And Drums | 1959 | Audio Fidelity |
| 52 |  |
An Evening With Larry Adler | 1959 | Decca |
| 53 |  |
A LARRY ADLER CONCERT 10"(10", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Stereo) | 1958 | Pye Records |
| 54 |  |
Wild Is The Wind / Let Me Beloved | 1958 | Columbia |
| 55 |  |
Larry Adler With Eric Robinson (5) – Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue(7", 45 RPM, EP) | 1958 | Pye Records |
| 56 |  |
Harmonica | 1958 | Pye Records |
| 57 |  |
Larry Adler A L'Harmonica(LP, 10", Album) | 1957 | Columbia |
| 58 |  |
Larry Plays Gershwin | 1957 | Columbia |
| 59 |  |
À L'Harmonica(7", 45 RPM, EP) | 1957 | Columbia |
| 60 |  |
Le Grisbi / Pam-Pou-De | 1957 | Columbia |
| 61 |  |
Weeping Willows | 1957 | His Master's Voice |
| 62 |  |
Harmonica Virtuoso (No.2) | 1956 | Columbia |
| 63 |  |
Larry Adler With Gerald Moore – Mr. Harmonica(10", Album) | 1955 | Angel Records |
| 64 |  |
Le Rififi / La Soupe A La Grimace | 1955 | Columbia |
| 65 |  |
2 - À L'Harmonica | 1955 | Columbia |
| 66 |  |
Harmonica Virtuoso(7", 45 RPM, EP) | 1955 | Columbia |
| 67 |  |
Larry Adler With John Kirby And His Orchestra – Larry Adler And His Harmonica Vol. 2 | 1954 | Decca |
| 68 |  |
A Recital Of Spanish And Slavonic Music | 1953 | Concert Hall Society |
| 69 |  |
Genevieve | 1953 | Columbia |
| 70 |  |
Romance For Harmonica With Strings And Pianoforte | 1952 | Columbia |
| 71 |  |
Stormy Weather / Caravan(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1949 | Harmony (4) |
| 72 |  |
They Can't Take That Away From Me / They All Laughed(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1949 | Harmony (4) |
| 73 |  |
Larry Adler And His Harmonica Volume Two(4×Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Album) | 1948 | Decca |
| 74 |  |
Estrellita / La Paloma(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1948 | Tono |
| 75 |  |
Blue Skies / My Melancholy Baby | 1948 | Tono |
| 76 |  |
Malaguena / Creole Love Call(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Reissue) | 1947 | Decca |
| 77 |  |
Larry Adler With Georgie Stoll And His Orchestra – Roumanian Rhapsody No. 1 (In A Major, Opus 11, No. 1) | 1947 | Decca |
| 78 |  |
Larry Adler And His Harmonica | 1946 | Decca |
| 79 |  |
Larry Adler With Georgie Stoll And His Orchestra – Clair De Lune / Hora Staccato | 1946 | Decca |
| 80 |  |
Larry Adler With John Kirby And His Orchestra – St. Louis Blues / Blues In The Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me) | 1946 | Decca |
| 81 |  |
Larry Adler, John Kirby And His Orchestra – Star Dust / That Old Black Magic(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1946 | Decca |
| 82 |  |
Begin The Beguine / Hand To Mouth Boogie | 1944 | Decca |
| 83 |  |
Harmonica Virtuoso | 1941 | Columbia |
| 84 |  |
Larry Adler (The Mouth Organ Virtuoso) With Jim Davidson And His A.B.C. Dance Orchestra – Hungarian Rhapsody / Blue Danube(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1939 | Regal Zonophone |
| 85 |  |
Body And Soul / My Melancholy Baby | 1939 | Columbia |
| 86 |  |
Lover, Come Back To Me / I Got Rhythm(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1939 | Regal Zonophone |
| 87 |  |
Larry Adler Avec Accompagnement D' Orchestre "Swing" – Lover Come Back To Me / My Melancholy Baby | 1938 | Columbia |
| 88 |  |
Mouth Organ Hits Of 1937(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1937 | Columbia |
| 89 |  |
Gracie Fields & Sandy Powell Entertain Charlie Kunz, Reginald Dixon, Larry Adler, Joe Petersen, Jay Wilbur, Primo Scala – Gracie's And Sandy's Party(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1936 | Rex |
| 90 |  |
A Little Bit Independent(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1936 | Rex |
| 91 |  |
Goody Goody(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1936 | Rex |
| 92 |  |
Empty Saddles(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1936 | Rex |
| 93 |  |
Smokin' Reefers / I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1936 | Vocalion (3) |
| 94 |  |
Continental / Smoke Gets In Your Eyes(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1936 | Columbia |
| 95 |  |
Larry Adler Accompanied By Fred Hartley's Orchestra – When Day Is Done / La Paloma(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1935 | Rex |
| 96 |  |
Love Me Forever(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1935 | Rex |
| 97 |  |
Cheek to Cheek / Isn't This A Lovely Day / Top Hat(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1935 | Rex |
| 98 |  |
Sophisticated Lady / Tiger Rag(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1935 | Regal Zonophone |
| 99 |  |
Solitude / St. Louis Blues | 1935 | Regal Zonophone |
| 100 |  |
Caravan / Night And Day / Tiger Rag | 1935 | Columbia |
| 101 |  |
Continental / Smoke Gets In Your Eyes | 1935 | Columbia |
| 102 |  |
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (When Your Heart's On Fire) / I Won't Dance | 1935 | Regal Zonophone |
| 103 |  |
Rhapsody In Blue(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1935 | Regal Zonophone |
| 104 |  |
Ritual Fire Dance / Caprice Viennois(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1935 | Regal Zonophone |
| 105 |  |
Bolero / Londonderry Air | 1935 | Columbia |
| 106 |  |
Ambiance Harmonica(LP) | - | Music For Pleasure |
| 107 |  |
Magie De L'Harmonica(LP) | - | Audio Fidelity |
| 108 |  |
Larry Adler Harmonica Virtuoso(CD, Album, Stereo) | - | Legacy International |
| 109 |  |
Larry Adler(7", EP) | - | Sonora (2) |
| 110 |  |
Larry Adler With Quintette Of The Hot Club Of France – Larry Adler With Quintette Of The Hot Club Of France(7", 45 RPM, EP) | - | Columbia |
| 111 |  |
Larry Adler Avec Le Pro Arte Orchestra – Vol. 2 Rhapsody In Blue(7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono) | - | Vogue |
| 112 |  |
Larry Adler, Hedva & David – Jerusalem The Golden City(7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP) | - | RCA |
| 113 |  |
Some Of These Days, Dardanella / Japanese Sandman Somebody Stole My Gal(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | Decca |
| 114 |  |
Geneviève / Le Grisbi(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | Columbia |
| 115 |  |
Someone To Watch Over Me / Bach Goes To Town(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | Columbia |
| 116 |  |
Caps For Sale(7", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP) | - | Scholastic Records |
| 117 |  |
Rififi / Pam-Pou-De(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | Odeon |
| 118 |  |
Duke Ellington Selection / George Gershwin Selection(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | Rex |
| 119 |  |
Caravan / St. Louis Blues(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | Columbia |
| 120 |  |
Bolero / I've Got You Under My Skin(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | - | Columbia |
| 121 |  |
Sur Le Chemin De Bahama = Bahama Buggyride / Saint-Jean-De-Luz(7", 45 RPM) | - | Pathé |
| 122 |  |
Larry Adler Spielt(7", 33 ⅓ RPM) | - | Varieton |
| 123 |  |
The Larry Adler Collection(CD, Compilation) | - | EMI |
Videos featuring Larry Adler
Larry Adler - Rhapsody in Blue
null
Larry Adler - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (When Your Heart’s On Fire) (78 rpm record) 1935
The Mouth Organ Virtuoso
With Orchestra
Film ‘Roberta’
Audio rip from Refal Zonophone 1935 release on 78 rpm shellac.
I do not own the copyright to this recording.
Larry Adler play Strauss on Harmonica
Harmonica solo by Larry Adler,Fritz Spielman on piano. Love Theme from the Gypsy Baron and The Blue Danube.
Sur le chemin de Bahama (feat. Jacques Hélian et son orchestre)
Provided to YouTube by Believe SAS
Sur le chemin de Bahama (feat. Jacques Hélian et son orchestre) · Larry Adler
Sur le chemin de Bahama / Saint-Jean-de-Luz (feat. Jacques Hélian et son orchestre) (Mono Version)
℗ Believe Digital
Released on: 1955-01-
Larry Adler - Harmonica
Django Reinhardt - Guitar
Staephane Grappelli - Violin
">I Got Rhythm - Larry Adler & The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France
7" E.P from 1938 featuring
Larry Adler - Harmonica
Django Reinhardt - Guitar
Staephane Grappelli - Violin
Larry Adler - Malaguena 78
Larry Adler - Le Rififi, from the Film ''Rififi''
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Larry Adler - It ain´t necessarily so
LARRY ADLER MUNSPEL - LA PALOMA
Inspelat: Köpenhamn 16 jan 1952, utg febr 1954
Längd: 1:59
Larry Adler-Caravan
null
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes · Larry Adler
The Greatest Mouth-Organ Masters Ever Made
℗ 2009 Master Classics Records
Released on: 2009-04-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Liner notes:
This action song of greeting was first sung by the Waihirere Maori Club for the opening of the Mangatu-Takipu hui a few years ago. Since then it has become very popular in the Gis
">Maori Music - Waihirere Maori Club - Tena Ra Koutou Katoa
Taken from the vinyl album "A Treasure Chest of Maori Music"
Liner notes:
This action song of greeting was first sung by the Waihirere Maori Club for the opening of the Mangatu-Takipu hui a few years ago. Since then it has become very popular in the Gis
My Melancholy Baby from EP: Larry Adler with Quintette of the Hot Club of France
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
My Melancholy Baby from EP: Larry Adler with Quintette of the Hot Club of France · Django Reinhardt
Four Classic Albums Plus (DJANGO / django / The Legendary Django / Django Reinhardt) (Digitally Remastered
Ellington: Caravan (Larry Adler, harmonica)
Ellington: Caravan
Larry Adler, harmonica
Digitized by Patrick Wong
From Columbia SEG7650
Liner notes:
An action song which originated in the Arawa district. The words are by Sam Mitchell of Rotorua. With their name interpolated in this version, the song is an expression of greetin
">Maori Music - Waihirere Maori Club - Naumai
Taken from the vinyl album "A Treasure Chest of Maori Music"
Liner notes:
An action song which originated in the Arawa district. The words are by Sam Mitchell of Rotorua. With their name interpolated in this version, the song is an expression of greetin
Saint-Jean-de-Luz (feat. Jacques Hélian et son orchestre)
Provided to YouTube by Believe SAS
Saint-Jean-de-Luz (feat. Jacques Hélian et son orchestre) · Larry Adler
Sur le chemin de Bahama / Saint-Jean-de-Luz (feat. Jacques Hélian et son orchestre) (Mono Version)
℗ 1955 - BNF Collection 2014
Released on: 195
Larry Adler (Harmonica) with the Quintette of the Hot Club of France: My melancholy baby
Larry Adler (Harmonica) with the Quintette of the Hot Club de France
Title: My melancholy baby
Instrumental
Columbia DF 2444
recorded: Paris, May 31, 1938
Remarks: a.o. with Django Reinhardt-guitarre and Stephane Grappelly-violin, piano
"out of copyright
Liner notes:
In bringing the attention of the young people back to the present, this song (sung to the tune of "A Perfect Day") is the logical sequel to "Nga Ariki". It laments that part of t
">Maori Music - Waihirere Maori Club - Kei Whea Ra He Oranga
Taken from the vinyl album "A Treasure Chest of Maori Music"
Liner notes:
In bringing the attention of the young people back to the present, this song (sung to the tune of "A Perfect Day") is the logical sequel to "Nga Ariki". It laments that part of t
Liner notes:
This beautiful lullaby was composed by the late Princess Te Rangi-pae. The late Alfred Hill had intended to include an arrangement of the song in his opera "Hinemoa". "Hine e Hin
">Maori Music - Waihirere Maori Club - Hine e Hine (solo with chorus)
Taken from the vinyl album "A Treasure Chest of Maori Music"
Liner notes:
This beautiful lullaby was composed by the late Princess Te Rangi-pae. The late Alfred Hill had intended to include an arrangement of the song in his opera "Hinemoa". "Hine e Hin
Liner notes:
(A greeting to the Maori King, Koroki Te Wherowhero): This song was composed by Bill Kerekere for the 1960 Coronation Anniversary Hui at Ngaruawahia where the Waihirere Maori Club
">Maori Music - Waihirere Maori Club - Karanga Mai Koroki
Taken from the vinyl album "A Treasure Chest of Maori Music"
Liner notes:
(A greeting to the Maori King, Koroki Te Wherowhero): This song was composed by Bill Kerekere for the 1960 Coronation Anniversary Hui at Ngaruawahia where the Waihirere Maori Club
05 - Clair de Lune - Larry Adler - Georgie Stoll and His Orchestra - Larry Adler and his harmonica -
Larry Adler and his harmonica - Album
05 - Clair de Lune - Larry Adler - Georgie Stoll and His Orchestra - Larry Adler and his harmonica – Album
Performer: Larry Adler; John Kirby and His Orchestra; Georgie Stoll and His Orchestra; John Kirby And His Or
Cher & Larry Adler - It Ain't Necessarily So (Live on The Michael Ball Show, 1994)
Cher's 5-disc video set CELEBRATION/THE WHOLE STORY is available for purchase in a limited run on https://msjukebox.com/cherkit with free worldwide shipping - discs are uncoded and can be played worldwide. If you are a true Cher fan, don't miss this oppor
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